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Job 31:12 — Word Study

Depth

WLCכִּ֤י אֵ֣שׁ הִ֭יא עַד־ אֲבַדּ֣וֹן תֹּאכֵ֑ל וּֽבְכָל־ תְּב֖וּאָתִ֣י תְשָׁרֵֽשׁ׃

BSAForkîy [because of this reason] ithûwʼ is a fireʼêsh [that consumes to destruction] that burnsʼâkal down toʻad [until it reaches] Abaddonʼăbaddôwn [a place of destruction or ruin] it would root outshârash [be able to, uproot, destroy completely] my entirekôl [all of my] harvesttᵉbûwʼâh [produce, income, fruit of my labor]

Word
Listen & take awayJob 31
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 12 is in this chapter.
Hebrew ↓ Download MP3 The Masoretic text of this chapter, read aloud. Read by Abraham Shmuelof, courtesy of Audio Scriptures International. Chapter divisions by the Academy of Ancient Languages..
Say the word Each Hebrew word carries its transliteration (te.sha.Resh) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Job 31:12quick helps
In a sentenceJob describes the destructive nature of sin, likening it to a fire that consumes everything.
Who is speakingJob, reflecting on his integrity and the consequences of wrongdoing.
Where we areJob is making a case against sin, emphasizing its dire consequences.
The hard wordאֲבַדּוֹן
Take awaySin leads to total destruction, as illustrated by the metaphor of fire.
8 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause subjectהִיא verbאָכַל The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
How rare are these words?in the Old Testament

Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.

Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.

Deep Study — Job 31:12

Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.

Context — Job's Reflection on Integritygenerated

11For that would be a heinous crime, an iniquity to be judged.
12For it is a fire that burns down to Abaddon; it would root out my entire harvest.
13If I have rejected the cause of my manservant or maidservant when they made a complaint against me,
14what will I do when God rises to judge? How will I answer when called to account?

Job 31:12 presents Job's argument against sin, illustrating how it can lead to total destruction. He uses the metaphor of fire to emphasize the severity of its consequences, which can consume everything he has worked for. This verse sits within a larger discourse where Job is defending his righteousness and questioning the justice of his suffering, as seen in the surrounding verses.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Proverbs 3:33The curse of the LORD is on the house of the wicked, but He blesses the home of the righteous.
2Proverbs 6:27Can a man embrace fire and his clothes not be burned?
3Jeremiah 5:7–9“Why should I forgive you? Your children have forsaken Me and sworn by gods that are not gods. I satisfied their needs, yet they committed adultery and assembled at the houses of prostitutes.
4Malachi 3:5“Then I will draw near to you for judgment. And I will be a swift witness against sorcerers and adulterers and perjurers, against oppressors of the widowed and fatherless, and against those who defraud laborers of their wages and deny justice to the foreigner but do not fear Me,” says the LORD of Hosts.
5Hebrews 13:4Marriage should be honored by all and the marriage bed kept undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterers.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 5 references, hung on the phrase they belong to

For it is a fire that consumeth to destruction, and would root out all mine increase.Proverbs 3:33 Proverbs 6:27 Jeremiah 5:7–9 Malachi 3:5 Hebrews 13:4

The Key Word אֵשׁ, 'eshgenerated

The word אֵשׁ ('esh) means 'fire' and symbolizes both literal and metaphorical destruction. It can represent divine anger as well as the consuming nature of sin, which Job likens to a fire that leads to ruin.

In this verse, the fire is described as burning down to אֲבַדּוֹן ('abaddon), emphasizing its ability to reach the depths of destruction. This highlights the totality of the devastation that sin can cause.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, which translates the phrase as it is a fire that burns down to Abaddon.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The main verb is תֹּאכֵ֑ל (it will devour), which governs the structure of the verse. It is followed by a prepositional phrase indicating the extent of destruction, leading to a noun phrase that describes the subject of the action.

The sentence structure emphasizes the relationship between the fire and its destructive capacity, culminating in the complete uprooting of Job's harvest.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

The Septuagint translates אֵשׁ as πῦρ (pur), which also means 'fire'. This choice reflects the same destructive imagery found in the Hebrew text.

The Greek translation does not fully capture the specific reference to אֲבַדּוֹן, which indicates a place of destruction, suggesting a broader interpretation of the concept of ruin.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Job 31:12 uses the imagery of fire to describe the destructive nature of sin, suggesting that it can lead to total ruin. Job emphasizes that such sin would completely uproot all he has worked for, illustrating the severe consequences of wrongdoing.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does Job mean by 'a fire that burns down to Abaddon'?

Job is illustrating the consuming and destructive nature of sin, suggesting that it leads to total ruin.

Why does Job refer to his harvest?

The harvest symbolizes the fruits of his labor and the consequences of his actions, emphasizing what is at stake if he were to sin.

What is the significance of the word Abaddon?

Abaddon represents a place of destruction, underscoring the ultimate consequence of sin and the severity of its impact.

How does this verse relate to the surrounding context?

Job is defending his integrity and questioning the justice of his suffering, using this metaphor to highlight the dire consequences of sin.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. In what ways have I seen the destructive nature of sin in my own life?
  2. How can I ensure that my actions bear good fruit rather than lead to ruin?
  3. What steps can I take to avoid the metaphorical fire that Job describes?
  4. How does understanding the consequences of sin impact my daily choices?

Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Job 31:12 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

For it [is] a fire [that] consumeth to destruction,.... Referring either to the nature of the sin of uncleanness; it is inflammatory, a burning lust, a fire burning in the breast; see 1 Corinthians

Read John Gill on Job 31 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

If mine heart have been deceived by a woman, or if I have laid wait at my neighbour's door; Job asserts his innocence of adultery. Deceived - hath let itself be seduced (Proverbs 7:8, etc.; Genesis 39:7-12).

Read Robert Jamieson on Job 31 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Bible

For this sin would be as a secret but consuming fire, wasting my estate and reputation, and body and soul too, provoking God and enraging the husband, and bringing down some extraordinary vengeance upon me; and therefore the fear of God kept me from this and such-like wickedness. All mine increase, i.e. all my estate: compare .

Read Matthew Poole on Job 31 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Job 31:12 For it [is] a fire [that] consumeth to destruction, and would root out all mine increase.Ver. 12. For it is a fire that consumeth to destruction] Ad Gehennam usque, to the place of destruction. Heb. to Abaddon, that burneth as low as hell itself. In case men should be slack to punish this heinous crime, yet whoremongers and adulterers God will judge, Hebrews 13:3, shutting them out of heaven, Revelation 22:15 (for what should any such dirty dog do trampling on that golden pavement?), and thrusting them into hell, as he did the filthy Sodomites, Judges 1:7, beside that hell above ground which he rained from heaven upon them, hot fire for their burning lusts, and stinking brimstone…

Read John Trapp on Job 31 →
AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible

Verse 12. For it is a fire] Nothing is so destructive of domestic peace. Where jealousy exists, unmixed misery dwells; and the adulterer and fornicator waste their substance on the unlawful objects of their impure affections.

Read AdamClarke on Job 31 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

12. to destruction] Heb. abaddon, i. e. Sheol or Death, as a place, ch. Job 26:6, Job 28:22. As to the complete ruin which this sin entailed comp. the passage Proverbs 6:24-35, particularly the last verses; see also Proverbs 5:8-14; Proverbs 7:26-27.

Read Cambridge on Job 31 →
Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the Bible

For it is a fire that consumeth to destruction - This may mean that such an offence would be a crime that would provoke God to send destruction, like a consuming fire upon the offender (Rosenmuller

Read Albert Barnes on Job 31 →
Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible

12. Destruction — Hebrews Abaddon. The sin spoken of is a fire that ceases not to burn till it has taken hold of hell itself.

Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Job 31 →

The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company

Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.

Modern formal

BSBBerean Standard Bible2020

For it is a fire that burns down to Abaddon; it would root out my entire harvest.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

for it is a fire that consumes to destruction, and would root out all my increase.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

For it is a fire that burns down to Abaddon; it would root out my entire harvest.

NETBNew English Translation2006

For it is a fire that devours even to Destruction, and it would uproot all my harvest.

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

For it is a fire that consumeth to destruction, and would root out all mine increase.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

For it is a fire that consumeth unto Destruction, And would root out all mine increase.

RVARevised Version, American1894

For it is a fire that consumeth unto Destruction, and would root out all mine increase.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

For it is a fire that consumeth to destruction, and would root out all my increase.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

Yea, this is a fire that shall deuoure to destruction, and which shall roote out al mine increase,

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

For it is a fire that consumeth to destruction, and would root out all mine increase.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

For a fire it [is], to destruction it consumeth, And among all mine increase doth take root,

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

For it [is] a fire, it consumes to destruction, || And takes root among all my increase,

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

For it would be a fire that consumeth down to the place of corruption, and would root out all my products.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

For that is a fire that consumes as far as Abaddon, and it would burn all my harvest to the root.

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

It is a fire that devoureth even to destruction, and rooteth up all things that spring.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

for this sin is like a fire that leads to destruction, destroying everything I have.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

It would be a fire burning even to destruction, and taking away all my produce.

Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.


The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank

This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.

כִּ֤י(dm)clausepredicateאֵ֣שׁ[is].a.firesubjectהִ֭יאthatclauseprepositional phrase · prepositionalעַד[which].toאֲבַדּ֣וֹןAbaddonverbתֹּאכֵ֑לit.will.devourוּֽandclauseprepositional phrase · prepositionalבְ(in)noun phraseכָלallnoun phraseתְּב֖וּאָתִ֣produceיmyverbתְשָׁרֵֽשׁit.will.root.up

Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.


The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran

The Masoretic Text is consistent with the Septuagint in that both convey the idea of destruction through fire. However, the Septuagint's wording does not match the Hebrew exactly, indicating a different interpretative approach.

Masoretic TextLeningrad Codex, c. AD 1008 — the text this page is built on

כִּ֤י אֵ֣שׁ הִ֭יא עַד־ אֲבַדּ֣וֹן תֹּאכֵ֑ל וּֽבְכָל־ תְּב֖וּאָתִ֣י תְשָׁרֵֽשׁ׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
אֵ֣שׁπῦρהִ֭יאἐστινתֹּאכֵ֑לἐπέλθῃ

3 of the 9 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.

Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.


The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with

This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.

Job 31:12כִּיforforכִּיאֵשׁ[is] a fire[is] a fireאֵשׁהוּאthatthatהוּאעַד[which] to[which] toעַדאֲבַדּוֹןAbaddonAbaddonאֲבַדּוֹןאָכַלit will devit will devourאָכַלכֹּלand alland allכֹּלתְּבוּאָהproduce myproduce myתְּבוּאָהשָׁרַשׁit will rooit will root upשָׁרַשׁאָבַדto perishto perishאָבַדכָּלַלto perfectto perfectכָּלַלבּוֹאLeboLeboבּוֹאעַדperpetuityperpetuityעַדיָדַעto knowto knowיָדַעלֶהָבָהflameflameלֶהָבָהיָצַתto kindleto kindleיָצַתטָמֵאuncleanuncleanטָמֵאעֵתtimetimeעֵתמָתַיhowhowמָתַיעֶ֫רֶבeveningeveningעֶ֫רֶבנֶ֫גֶדbeforebeforeנֶ֫גֶדשָׁתָהto drinkto drinkשָׁתָהלֶ֫חֶםfoodfoodלֶ֫חֶםעֵדָהcongregaticongregationעֵדָהעֲבֹדָהserviceserviceעֲבֹדָהמַעֲשֵׂרtithetitheמַעֲשֵׂריִצְהָרoiloilיִצְהָר
meets it a little oftener than chancemeets it far oftener than chancebuilt from the same roottwo words of the verse share ita word of this versea related word

Lexicons — every word in Job 31:12

One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.

Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.

for [is] a fire that [which] to Abaddon it will devour and all produce my it will root up
כִּ֤יki for H3588 Particle
4,483× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
A conjunction used to show cause or connection, as in Genesis 2:23 where Adam says the woman is bone of his bone because she was taken out of him. It is often translated as 'for', 'because', or 'since'.
Amplified meaning
because of this reason
Tyndale gloss
for
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

כִּי (ki) is a conjunction primarily meaning 'that,' 'for,' or 'when.' It indicates causal relationships and can express conditions like 'if' or 'though.' The word is versatile, appearing in various contexts to convey certainty, exception, or concession. Notably, it can combine with other particles to modify its meaning, such as in the phrase כִּי אם־ (ki im), meaning 'that if.'

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

כִּי conj. that, for, when

that

Of time, when, of the past

elsewhere כִּי has a force approximating to if, though it usu. represents a case as more likely to occur than אִם

when or if, with a concessive force, i.e. though

Because, since

base

כִּי אם־

each part. retaining its independent force, and relating to a different clause:

that if

for if

(About 140 t.) the two particles being closely conjoined, and relating to the same clause—

limiting the prec. clause, except

the if being neglected, and treated as pleonastic, so that the clause is no longer a limitation of the preceding clause but a contradiction of it: but rather, but

after an oath, surely

base

כִּי עַל כֵּן forasmuch as

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3588a כִּי that, for, when . that

. . Of time, when, of the past

. elsewhere כִּי has a force approximating to if, though it usu. represents a case as more likely to occur than אִם

. when or if, with a concessive force, i.e. though

. Because, since

H3588b כִּי אם־ . each part. retaining its independent force, and relating to a different clause: . that if

. for if

. (About 140 t.) the two particles being closely conjoined, and relating to the same clause— . limiting the prec. clause, except

. the if being neglected, and treated as pleonastic, so that the clause is no longer a limitation of the preceding clause but a contradiction of it: but rather, but

. after an oath, surely

H3588c כִּי עַל כֵּן forasmuch as

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3588 kiy kee

a primitive particle (the full form of the prepositional

prefix) indicating causal relations of all kinds, antecedent

or consequent; (by implication) very widely used as a relative

conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by

other particles annexed:--and, + (forasmuch, inasmuch,

where-)as, assured(-ly), + but, certainly, doubtless, + else,

even, + except, for, how, (because, in, so, than) that, +

nevertheless, now, rightly, seeing, since, surely, then,

therefore, + (al- )though, + till, truly, + until, when,

whether, while, whom, yea, yet.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

כִּי (ki) — for.

1) that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since

1a) that

1a1) yea, indeed

1b) when (of time)

1b1) when, if, though (with a concessive force)

1c) because, since (causal connection)

1d) but (after negative)

1e) that if, for if, indeed if, for though, but if

1f) but rather, but

1g) except that

1h) only, nevertheless

1i) surely

1j) that is

1k) but if

1l) for though

1m) forasmuch as, for therefore

כִּי [אם] (ki im) — that if: except.

1) except if

1a) but if

1b) even though

כִּי [עַל כֵּן] (ki [al ken]) — for as that: since.

1) that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since

1a) that

1a1) yea, indeed

1b) when (of time)

1b1) when, if, though (with a concessive force)

1c) because, since (causal connection)

1d) but (after negative)

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj — Particle
HTc
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

for (ki (conjunction), le, from 'el (preposition), and various other words. In the New Testament also the words are various, chiefly gar, kai gar, hoti (conjunctions); anti apo eis dia (accusative), epi (dative and accusative), peri (genitive), pros (genitive and accusative), huper (genitive) (prepositions)): the English Revised Version and the American Standard Revised Version give in many cases more literal or more accurate renderings than those in the King James Version.

In the New Testament the most important preps. from a doctrinal point of view are anti, "face to face," "over against," "instead," "on behalf of," peri, "around," "about," "concerning," huper, "over," "on behalf of." The first has been claimed as stating the substitutionary nature of Christ's sacrifice as contrasted with huper and peri, more frequently used of it. But, although anti in the New Testament often means…

The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
for [is] a fire that [which] to Abaddon it will devour and all produce my it will root up
אֵ֣שׁ'esh [is] a fire H784 Noun common · both singular absolute
378× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Fire is a powerful symbol in the Bible, representing both God's anger and his refining presence, as seen in Deuteronomy 4:24 and Malachi 3:2-3. It is also used for cooking and warmth. This concept is central to many biblical stories.
Amplified meaning
that consumes to destruction
Tyndale gloss
fire
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אֵשׁ (esh) means 'fire' and encompasses various types, including natural fire, supernatural fire associated with divine appearances, and fire used for cooking or on altars. It can also figuratively represent God's anger. The entries consistently highlight its literal and metaphorical uses, with no significant disagreement among lexicons.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אֵשׁ 377 n.f. fire

fire, of conflagration

of supernatural fire

fire for cooking, roasting, parching

esp. of altar fire

fig. of Yahweh's anger

in various combinations

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H784 אֵשׁ fire . fire, of conflagration

. of supernatural fire

. fire for cooking, roasting, parching

. esp. of altar fire

. fig. of Yahweh's anger

. in various combinations

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

784 'esh aysh

a primitive word; fire (literally or figuratively):--

burning, fiery, fire, flaming, hot.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אֵשׁ (esh) — fire.

1) fire

1a) fire, flames

1b) supernatural fire (accompanying theophany)

1c) fire (for cooking, roasting, parching)

1d) altar-fire

1e) God's anger (fig.)

Aramaic equivalent: esh (אֶשָּׁא "fire" H0785)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-cs — Noun common · both singular absolute
HNcbsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

fir ('esh; pur):

These are the common words for fire, occurring very frequently. 'Ur, "light" (Isa 24:15 the King James Version; compare the Revised Version (British and American); Isa 31:9, and see FIRES), nur (Aramaic) (Da 3:22 ff) are found a few times, also 'eshshah (Jer 6:29), and be`erah (Ex 22:6), once each. Ac 28:2,3 has pura, "pyre," and Mr 14:54; Lu 22:56, phos, "light," the Revised Version (British and American) "in the light (of the fire)." "To set…

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Fire

(1.) For sacred purposes. The sacrifices were consumed by fire (Gen. 8:20). The ever-burning fire on the altar was first kindled from heaven (Lev. 6:9, 13; 9:24), and afterwards rekindled at the dedication of Solomon’s temple (2 Chr. 7:1, 3). The expressions “fire from heaven” and “fire of the Lord” generally denote lightning, but sometimes also the fire of the altar was so called (Ex. 29:18; Lev. 1:9; 2:3; 3:5, 9).

Fire for a sacred purpose obtained otherwise than from the altar was called “strange fire” (Lev. 10:1, 2;

is represented as the symbol of Jehovah’s presence and the instrument of his power, in the way either of approval or of destruction. (Exodus 3:2; 14:19) etc. There could not be a better symbol for Jehovah than this of fire, it being immaterial, mysterious, but visible, warming, cheering, comforting, but also terrible and consuming. Parallel with this application of fire and with its symbolical meaning are to be noted the similar use for sacrificial purposes and the respect paid to it, or to the heavenly bodies as symbols of deity, which prevailed among so many nations of antiquity, and of which the traces are not even now extinct; e.g. the Sabean and Magian systems of worship. (Isaiah 27:9) Fire for sacred purposes obtained elsewhere than from the altar was called "strange fire," and for the use of such Nadab and Abihu were punished…

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

In Scripture, is often connected with the presence of Jehovah; as in the burning bush, and on Mount Sinai, Ex 3:2 19:18 Ps 18:1-50 Hab 1:1-3:19. The second coming of Christ will be "in flaming fire," 2Th 1:8. In the New Testament it illustrates the enlightening, cheering, and purifying agency of the Holy Spirit, Mt 3:11 Ac 2:3. By sending fire from heaven to consume sacrifices, God often signified his acceptance of them: as in the case of Abel, Ge 4:4; Abraham, Ge…

for [is] a fire that [which] to Abaddon it will devour and all produce my it will root up
הִ֭יאhi' that H1931 Pronoun
1,879× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word is a pronoun meaning 'he', 'she', or 'it', used to refer to a person or thing. It is used in the Bible to emphasize a subject or make it clear who is being talked about.
Tyndale gloss
he/she/it
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

הוּא (hu) is a third-person singular pronoun meaning he, she, or it, used for emphasis or when no verb is present. It can also refer to oneself or serve as a demonstrative pronoun. The word has various nuances, including resuming the subject with emphasis or expressing it unobtrusively. It can indicate 'that' or 'those' when used with the definite article.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

הוּא m. הִיא f., pron. of the 3rd ps. sing. he, she, used also (in both genders) for the neuter it

an emph. he (she, it, they), sometimes equivalent to himself (herself, itself, themselves), or (esp. with the art.) that (those)

It resumes the subj. with emph.

Where, however, the pron. follows the pred., its position gives it the minimum of emphasis, and it expresses (or resumes) the subject as unobtrusively as possible

It anticipates (as it seems) the subject

As an emph. predicate, of God

In a neuter sense, that, it (of an action, occurrence, matte, etc.)

With the art.: so regularly when joined to a subst. defined itself by the art.

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1931 הוּא, הִיא he, she, used also (in both genders) for the neuter it . an emph. he (she, it, they), sometimes equivalent to himself (herself, itself, themselves), or (esp. with the art.) that (those)

. It resumes the subj. with emph.

. Where, however, the pron. follows the pred., its position gives it the minimum of emphasis, and it expresses (or resumes) the subject as unobtrusively as possible

. It anticipates (as it seems) the subject

. As an emph. predicate, of God

. In a neuter sense, that, it (of an action, occurrence, matte, etc.)

. With the art.: so regularly when joined to a subst. defined itself by the art.

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1931 huw' hoo

of which the feminine (beyond the Pentateuch) is hiyw {he}; a

primitive word, the third person pronoun singular, he (she or

it); only expressed when emphatic or without a verb; also

(intensively) self, or (especially with the article) the same;

sometimes (as demonstrative) this or that; occasionally

(instead of copula) as or are:--he, as for her, him(-self),

it, the same, she (herself), such, that (...it), these, they,

this, those, which (is), who.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

הוּא (hu) — he/she/it.

pron 3p s

1) he, she, it

1a) himself (with emphasis)

1b) resuming subj with emphasis

1c) (with minimum emphasis following predicate)

1d) (anticipating subj)

1e) (emphasising predicate)

1f) that, it (neuter) demons pron

2) that (with article)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Pron — Pronoun
HPp3fs
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
for [is] a fire that [which] to Abaddon it will devour and all produce my it will root up
עַד־'ad- [which] to H5704 Preposition
1,261× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means until or as far as, describing a point in time or space. It's used in the Bible to set boundaries or limits, like in Exodus when describing the Israelites' journey.
Amplified meaning
until it reaches
Tyndale gloss
till
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

עַד (ad) primarily functions as a preposition, adverb, or conjunction meaning 'until,' 'up to,' or 'as far as.' It can denote spatial, temporal, or degree-related contexts, such as 'even to' or 'while.' The entries indicate its use in poetry and in various combinations, but there is no significant disagreement among the lexicons regarding its meanings.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

עַד, in poetry עֲדֵי prep. as far as, even to, up to, until, while

prep.

of space

Of time

Of degree

conj.

until

While

Of degree, to the point that, so that even (rare)

עַד לְ, a strengthened form for עַד. Thus

of space

Of time

Of degree

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5704 עַד, in poetry עֲדֵי as far as, even to, up to, until, while . prep. . of space

. Of time

. Of degree

. conj. . until

. While

. Of degree, to the point that, so that even (rare)

. עַד לְ, a strengthened form for עַד. Thus . of space

. Of time

. Of degree

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5704 `ad ad

properly, the same as 5703 (used as a preposition, adverb or

conjunction; especially with a preposition); as far (or long,

or much) as, whether of space (even unto) or time (during,

while, until) or degree (equally with):--against, and, as,

at, before, by (that), even (to), for(-asmuch as),

(hither-)to, + how long, into, as long (much) as, (so) that,

till, toward, until, when, while, (+ as) yet.

see HEBREW for 05703

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

עַד (ad) — till.

prep

1) as far as, even to, until, up to, while, as far as

1a) of space

1a1) as far as, up to, even to

1b) in combination

1b1) from...as far as, both...and (with 'min' -from)

1c) of time

1c1) even to, until, unto, till, during, end

1d) of degree

1d1) even to, to the degree of, even like

conj

2) until, while, to the point that, so that even

Aramaic equivalent: ad (עַד "till" H5705)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep — Preposition
HR
for [is] a fire that [which] to Abaddon it will devour and all produce my it will root up
אֲבַדּ֣וֹן'a.va.Don Abaddon H11 Noun
5× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Abaddon means a place of destruction or ruin, often translated as destruction in the KJV. It is an abstract concept of perishing. In the Bible, it is associated with Hades.
Amplified meaning
a place of destruction or ruin
Tyndale gloss
Abaddon
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word אֲבַדּוֹן ('abaddown) refers to a place of destruction or ruin, often associated with Hades. It is derived from a root meaning 'to perish' and appears in contexts related to death and the afterlife, notably in Job and Proverbs. There is some discussion about its specific implications in relation to Sheol and the condition of the dead.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אֲבַדּוֹן n.f. ? Pr 27:20 abstr. nearly = n.pr. (place of) Destruction, Ruin, ’Abaddôn (cf. Syriac 𝔖 Jb 28:22 etc.)—אֲבַדּֽוֹן Jb 26:6 (+ 4 t.); abbrev. אבדה Kt אֲבַדּֽוֹ Qr Pr 27:20.—Place of ruin in Shᵉʼôl for lost or ruined dead, as development of earlier distinction of condition in Shᵉʼôl (v. שְׁאוֹל). Only in WisdLt; Jb 31:12; ∥ שׁאול Jb 26:6 Pr 15:11 27:20; ∥ מות Jb 28:22; ∥ קבר ψ…

Read the full entry →
Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H11 אֲבַדּוֹן abstr. nearly = n. pr. (place of) Destruction, Ruin, ’Abaddôn

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

11 'abaddown ab-ad-done'

intensive from 6; abstract, a perishing; concrete,

Hades:--destruction.

see HEBREW for 06

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אֲבַדּוֹן (a.vad.don) — Abaddon.

Abaddon, a place of destruction, destruction, ruin

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-proper — Noun
HNtfsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

a-bad'-on ('abhaddon, "ruin," "perdition," "destruction"): Though "destruction" is commonly used in translating 'abhaddon, the stem idea is intransitive rather than passive--the idea of perishing, going to ruin, being in a ruined state, rather than that of being ruined, being destroyed.

The word occurs six times in the Old Testament, always as a place name in the sense in which Sheol is a place name. It denotes, in certain aspects, the world of the dead as constructed in the Hebrew imagination. It is a common mistake to understand such expressions in a too mechanical way. Like ourselves, the men of the earlier ages had to use picture language when they spoke of the conditions that existed after death, however their picturing of the matter may have differed from ours. In three instances Abaddon is parallel with Sheol (Job 26:6;

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Abaddon

Destruction, the Hebrew name (equivalent to the Greek Apollyon, i.e., destroyer) of “the angel of the bottomless pit” (Rev. 9:11). It is rendered “destruction” in Job 28:22; 31:12; 26:6; Prov. 15:11; 27:20. In the last three of these passages the Revised Version retains the word “Abaddon.” We may regard this word as a personification of the idea of destruction, or as sheol, the realm of the dead.

Smith's Bible Dictionary

See APOLLYON.

Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary

the destroyer

The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
for [is] a fire that [which] to Abaddon it will devour and all produce my it will root up
תֹּאכֵ֑לto.Khel it will devour H398 Verb · Qal · imperfect third person feminine singular
810× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word means to eat or devour, and it's used in many stories, including when Jesus fed the 5000 with fish and bread in the book of Matthew. It's about taking in nourishment and being satisfied.
Tyndale gloss
to eat
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אָכַל (akal) means 'to eat' and encompasses a wide range of meanings, including literal consumption by humans and animals, as well as figurative uses like devouring by fire or destruction. It can describe actions such as feeding or causing to eat, and it also appears in contexts of oppression and destruction. The verb has various forms, indicating different subjects and nuances.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אָכַל 806 vb. eat

Qal

eat, human subject

of beasts, birds, etc., eat, devour

fig. of fire, devour, consume

of sword, devour, slay

in genl., devour, consume, destroy

fig. of oppression, devour the poor

Niph.

be eaten by man

be devoured by fire, consumed

be wasted, destroyed, of flesh

Pu. be consumed

Hiph.

cause to eat, feed with

cause to devoure, obj. sword

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H398 אָכַל eat .. eat, human subject

. of beasts, birds, etc., eat, devour

. fig. of fire, devour, consume

. of sword, devour, slay

. in genl., devour, consume, destroy

. fig. of oppression, devour the poor

. . be eaten by man

. be devoured by fire, consumed

. be wasted, destroyed, of flesh

. be consumed

. . cause to eat, feed with

. cause to devoure, obj. sword

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

398 'akal aw-kal'

a primitive root; to eat (literally or figuratively):--X at

all, burn up, consume, devour(-er, up), dine, eat(-er, up),

feed (with), food, X freely, X in...wise(-deed, plenty), (lay)

meat, X quite.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אָכַל (a.khal) — to eat.

1) to eat, devour, burn up, feed

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to eat (human subject)

1a2) to eat, devour (of beasts and birds)

1a3) to devour, consume (of fire)

1a4) to devour, slay (of sword)

1a5) to devour, consume, destroy (inanimate subjects - ie, pestilence, drought)

1a6) to devour (of oppression)

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) to be eaten (by men)

1b2) to be devoured, consumed (of fire)

1b3) to be wasted, destroyed (of flesh)

1c) (Pual)

1c1) to cause to eat, feed with

1c2) to cause to devour

1d) (Hiphil)

1d1) to feed

1d2) to cause to eat

1e) (Piel)

1e1) consume

Aramaic equivalent: a.khal (אֲכַל "to devour" H0399)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal-Imperf-3fs — Verb · Qal · imperfect third person feminine singular
HVqi3fs
for [is] a fire that [which] to Abaddon it will devour and all produce my it will root up
וּֽבְכָל־u.ve.Khol- and all H3605 Conjunction · preposition · noun common masculine singular construct
5,415× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for 'all' or 'everything' is used throughout the Bible, like in Genesis 1:31, where God sees all He has made as very good. It encompasses the entirety of something, whether people, things, or situations.
Amplified meaning
all of my
Tyndale gloss
all
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

כֹּל (kol) means 'all' or 'the whole.' It can refer to totality, including every person or thing, and is often used with a following genitive to specify what is included. The term can also denote a broader sense of everything in existence or all circumstances of life. The lexicons do not show significant disagreement on its meanings.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

כֹּל once כּוֹל n.m. the whole, all

with foll. gen. (as usually) the whole of, to be rendered, however, often in our idiom, to avoid stiffness, any or every

Absolutely:

without the art., all things, all

with the art. הַכֹּל

where the sense is limited by the context to things (or persons) just mentioned

in a wider sense, all, whether of all mankind or of all living things, the universe, or of all the circumstances of life (chiefly late)

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3605 כֹּל once כּוֹל the whole, all . with foll. gen. (as usually) the whole of, to be rendered, however, often in our idiom, to avoid stiffness, any or every

. Absolutely: . without the art., all things, all

. with the art. הַכֹּל . where the sense is limited by the context to things (or persons) just mentioned

. in a wider sense, all, whether of all mankind or of all living things, the universe, or of all the circumstances of life (chiefly late)

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3605 kol kole

or (Jer. 33:8) kowl {kole}; from 3634; properly, the whole;

hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a

plural sense):--(in) all (manner, (ye)), altogether, any

(manner), enough, every (one, place, thing), howsoever, as

many as, (no-)thing, ought, whatsoever, (the) whole,

whoso(-ever).

see HEBREW for 03634

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

כֹּל (kol) — all.

1) all, the whole

1a) all, the whole of

1b) any, each, every, anything

1c) totality, everything

Aramaic equivalent: kol (כֹּל "all" H3606)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | Prep | N-ms — Conjunction · preposition · noun common masculine singular construct
HC/R/Ncmsc
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

ol: Used in various combinations, and with different meanings.

(1) All along, "Weeping all along as he went" (Jer 41:6), i.e. throughout the whole way he went, feigning equal concern with the men from Shiloh, etc., for the destruction of the Temple, so as to put them off their guard.

(2) All in all, "That God may be all in all" (1Co 15:28, Greek: panta en pasin, "all things in all (persons and) things"). "The universe, with all it comprises, will wholly answer to God's will and reflect His mind" (Dummelow).

(3) All one, "It is all one" (Job 9:22), "it makes no difference whether I live or die."

(4) At all, "If thy father miss me at all" (1Sa 20:6), "in any way," "in the least."

The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
for [is] a fire that [which] to Abaddon it will devour and all produce my it will root up
תְּב֖וּאָתִ֣יte.Vu.'a.Ti produce my H8393 Noun common feminine singular construct · suffix
42× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word means produce or income, referring to crops, revenue, or even the product of our lips. It is translated as fruit, gain, or revenue in the KJV Bible.
Amplified meaning
produce, income, fruit of my labor
Tyndale gloss
produce
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

תְּבוּאָה (tbuw'ah) refers to produce or revenue, typically from the earth, including crops and income. It can also figuratively denote gains, such as wisdom or the product of lips. The word is derived from a root meaning to bring forth, and its usage spans both literal and figurative contexts.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

תְּבוּאָה n.f. proventus, product, revenue

product, yield, usually of earth

income, revenue, in general

fig. gain of wisdom

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H8393 תְּבוּאָה proventus, product, revenue

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

8393 tbuw'ah teb-oo-aw'

from 935; income, i.e. produce (literally or

figuratively):--fruit, gain, increase, revenue.

see HEBREW for 0935

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

תְּבוּאָה (te.vu.ah) — produce.

1) produce, product, revenue

1a) product, yield, crops (of the earth usually)

1b) income, revenue

1c) gain (of wisdom) (fig)

1d) product of lips (fig)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-fs | Suff — Noun common feminine singular construct · suffix
HNcfsc/Sp1bs
for [is] a fire that [which] to Abaddon it will devour and all produce my it will root up
תְשָׁרֵֽשׁ׃te.sha.Resh it will root up H8327 Verb · Piel · imperfect third person feminine singular
8× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To uproot means to remove something from the ground, like a plant. In the Bible, it can also mean to get rid of something bad. It appears in books like Isaiah and Jeremiah.
Amplified meaning
be able to, uproot, destroy completely
Tyndale gloss
to uproot
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word שָׁרַשׁ (*sharash*) is a verb that relates to rooting, both in the sense of establishing roots and uprooting. It includes various forms such as rooting up, taking root, and being rooted out. The entries indicate a range of meanings connected to the concept of roots, but there is no significant disagreement among the lexicons.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[שָׁרַשׁ] vb. denom. Pi. = deal with the roots

root up, out

Pu. be rooted up (of produce)

Po‛ēl take root, establish oneself firmly

Po‛al id.

Hiph. id.

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H8327 שָׁרַשׁ vb. denom. Pi. = deal with the roots

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

8327 sharash shaw-rash'

a primitive root; to root, i.e. strike into the soil, or (by

implication) to pluck from it:--(take, cause to take) root

(out).

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שָׁרַשׁ (sha.rash) — to uproot.

1) to uproot, take root, deal with the roots

1a) (Piel) to root up, root out

1b) (Pual) to be rooted up or out (of produce)

1c) (Poel) to take root

1d) (Poal) to take root

1e) (Hiphil) to take root, cause to take root

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Piel-Imperf-3fs — Verb · Piel · imperfect third person feminine singular
HVpi3fs
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
Sources on this page. Lexicons and dictionaries imported from the CrossWire SWORD modules — Abbott-Smith, Strong's, Dodson, the Intermediate Liddell-Scott-Jones, Robinson and Packard, Webster and Cawdrey. Thayer’s Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament (Harper, 1889 — Grimm’s Wilke’s Clavis Novi Testamenti, translated, revised and enlarged by Joseph Henry Thayer) is public domain and is set here from the Internet Archive page scan greekenglishlex00grim; it is uncorrected OCR, marked as such on the entry itself, and the Strong’s numbers — which Thayer’s own edition does not carry — were matched by lemma against the other modules on this page. Trench’s Synonyms of the New Testament (Macmillan, 1880) and Moulton and Milligan’s Vocabulary of the Greek Testament (Hodder & Stoughton, 1930, which entered the United States public domain on 1 January 2026) are set from Internet Archive page scans synonymsofnewtes00treniala and vocabularyofgree00mouluoft, and are likewise uncorrected OCR matched to Strong’s numbers by lemma. Trench treats a group of words at once, so the same essay stands on the page of each word it compares. The Mounce Concise Greek-English Dictionary is © 1993 and is used here by permission for non-commercial use, www.teknia.com/greek-dictionary. The full Liddell-Scott-Jones and the Hebrew word data (TAHOT) come from STEPBible.org, CC BY 4.0. Brown-Driver-Briggs is the OpenScriptures digitisation, public domain. Syntax analysis is the Nestle 1904 Lowfat treebank (biblicalhumanities.org); the concordance and morphology are built from the tagged Nestle 1904 text. Septuagint occurrences use the Open Scriptures Septuagint lemma index, derived from CCAT (University of Pennsylvania) and the Rahlfs 1935 dataset by Eliran Wong, CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 — used here on a non-commercial ministry site. Greek of Josephus and Barnabas from the Perseus Digital Library, CC BY-SA 4.0. Commentaries and the Ante-Nicene Fathers are public-domain texts hosted on this site. Everyday Greek from the Duke Databank of Documentary Papyri, CC BY 3.0, with dates and provenance from the Heidelberger Gesamtverzeichnis. Philo and the Apostolic Fathers from Open Greek and Latin (First1KGreek), CC BY-SA 4.0. The apparatus and the fifth Greek column are the SBL Greek New Testament, © 2010 SBL and Logos Bible Software, CC BY 4.0. The Latin is the Clementine Vulgate (public domain); the Syriac New Testament is the ETCBC edition (MIT licence). The Hebrew behind the Greek is computed here from the Septuagint index and TAHOT, not taken from any aligned edition. The translation spread and the per-word edition marks come from the Translators Amalgamated Greek NT (STEPBible, CC BY 4.0); clause roles from the Nestle 1904 Lowfat treebank (CC BY-SA 4.0); place identifications and their confidence from OpenBible.info Bible Geocoding (CC BY 4.0), with map tiles © OpenStreetMap contributors. Gospel parallels are computed here from shared uncommon vocabulary, not taken from any printed harmony. Cross references are the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge and the subject headings are Nave’s Topical Bible, both public domain. Works under Creative Commons licences are used unchanged apart from markup removal.

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